I dont normally like cacti. Prickly things that just sit there so banished to the greenhouse. They got bone dry and then sat in water which must be what they like. Glad I kept them.

actually, cacti normally grow where water is sparse. Cacti have evolved so that (1) any rain water will be directed towards its roots (2) they have no leaves (so minimise water loss) although these may be modified as thorns and spines to protect from being eaten by animals, and (3) the body of the plant is a water store. In severe droughts, the plant will start to shrivel up but is still alive (the perfect choice for those people who forget to water their house plants!) but when watered, will return to its original shape. Ideally, do not soak cacti in trays of water or water the plant itself as they are prone to rot, and better to do the watering in stages - despite lack of water, plants still grow and if you water too much in one go, the body of the plant can split as it absorbs as much water as possible (usually recoverable but leaves a scabby looking scar)

But the other thing about watering cacti after a long dry period, it encourages the plants to flower (a survival response to produce seed in case the next drought kills it off) Treating cacti with kindness doesn't always produce flowers, you have to be mean with them!

So pretty June. I had one like the one on the left years since, and started collecting them. One I had given went all over with me, but I no longer have it. I do have a Christmas and Easter cactus - the latter now in bud!